Quiet Luxury Icons And Their Influence On Style

The timeless elegance of high society inspires the “Quiet Luxury” and “Old Money” aesthetics. The search term “quiet luxury “ has over 35 billion views on TikTok and is continuing to gain traction. Vintage public figures such as Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and Audrey Hepburn paved the way for this trend. Quiet Luxury is characterized by minimal opulence and a less-is-more attitude.   

Lady Dior

The "Revenge Dress" - 1994  

Diana with her Lady Dior bag

May 1988

Princess Diana of Wales was the most photographed woman on the planet until her untimely death in 1997. Diana wore a Dior handbag on a trip to Argentina in 1995, leading the fashion house to name the bag “Lady Dior” in her honor. After Di divorced Prince Charles, she had more freedom to dress however she pleased. This led to the iconic “revenge dress” by  Christina Stambolian that she wore to a 1994 dinner at the Serpentine Gallery. Diana had a high-low style of dress where she could seemingly make anything look put together with a little styling. 

Jackie O

Jackie's signature Hermes scarf/oversized sunglasses combo - 1960's

Jackie wearing a controversial Oleg Cassini real leopard skin coat - 1962

1961

Jacqueline "Jackie" Lee Kennedy Onassis was an American writer, book editor, and socialite who served as the first lady of the United States from 1961 to 1963, as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. Jackie launched several trends including the pillbox hat, the Hermes scarf, oversized sunglasses, and elbow-length gloves. If you're having a bad hair day just throw on a head scarf and oversized sunglasses!  

Carolyn-Bessette Kennedy

November 1996 - New York

January 1997 - New York

October 1997 - New York

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree… especially when it comes to Carolyn-Bessette Kennedy! Carolyn-Bessette Kennedy was an executive publicist for Calvin Klein and entered the public eye in 1994 when she began dating John F. Kennedy Jr. Her timeless NYC street style consisted of a vast collection of Prada coats, headbands, dressy button-ups, little black dresses, and beige/black combos. Although her look was sleek and minimal she proved that less can most definitely be more!

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey in a Givenchy black dress from Breakfast At Tiffany’s

Audrey and her beloved cropped trousers/ballet flats combo

1957

Audrey Hepburn rose to fame in the 1950s and so did her timelessly tailored style. Hepburn believed that women should find their contemporary sense of style rather than rely on trends. She loved investing in quality pieces and usually stuck to simple silhouettes with a sophisticated feel. Hepburn's fashion philosophy was that it was better to underdress than overdress. Garments associated with her style were cigarette pants, headbands, ballet flats, trench coats, head scarves, feminine suits, and sheath dresses. 

These Quiet Luxury icons have had a lasting effect on the fashion zeitgeist. Today they have made their way onto Gen Z's Pinterest boards. At the core of the Quiet Luxury aesthetic are investment pieces and thoughtful shopping over fast fashion. It's not about breaking the bank, it's about choosing quality over quantity. Stay tuned to see how the Marmalade team takes inspiration from these trendsetters! 

Quiet luxury items to shop now!

Chanel CC Caviar Kelly

https://www.marmaladefreshclothing.com/122cc-caviar-kelly-1.html

Anine Bing Lydia Jacket

https://www.marmaladefreshclothing.com/lydia-jacket.html

FYB Lily Tennis Bracelet 

https://www.marmaladefreshclothing.com/lily-tennis-bracelet.html

Rachel Comey Zimi Dress

https://www.marmaladefreshclothing.com/zimi-dress.html

Louis Vuitton Epi Soufflot

https://www.marmaladefreshclothing.com/epi-soufflot.html#&gid=1&pid=3